I was born and raised in good old Southern New Jersey. I have lived in the same house since I was a baby. Throughout my childhood I was content to live in the same house for the rest of my life! Little did I know that's not really how it worked AND God had other plans for me. One Sunday morning when I was about 8 or 9 I remember missionaries from France coming to my church and doing a presentation. I was enraptured. I went home thinking wow I want to do that too! But the dream got buried under homework, youth group and just the everyday normal things of life. But as I went into highschool the desire for missions was still there. I participated in some short term missions trips and got involved in some outreaches and activities at my church, but still the longing to pursue missions full time kind of freaked me out! So I followed my heart and invested in the next greatest passion of my life - teaching.

In the fall of 1999 I  enrolled as a freshman at Philadelphia Biblical University. For the next 4 1/2 years I pursued a major in Early Childhood Education and Biblical Studies. It was a great time of learning academically and growing spiritually. It was also a time where I questioned, searched and finally discovered the foundation of my faith and what I really believed. To be honest, it was intense and there were days where it seemed that I would in the refining fire forever. But God is faithful and patient and led my heart to a place of purpose and understanding. I graduated with 2 degrees and thought it would be quite easy to obtain a teaching job.

Wow 3 years later and I still do not have a full time teaching job! God had crazy other plans for me. I went from school to school substitute teaching and even did an education research project for a time. All along the way - the not knowing where my next paycheck would come from, what job I would be working from week to week - was God preparing me for a big change that was coming up in my life!

The summer of 2005 I watched a video called Invisible Children. I came home that night telling God that was heart and I wanted to pursue some type of mission trip in Africa. I gave God the next year of my life and said take me on adventure! I applied for the Adventures in Missions FYM program and in January 2006 I headed to South Africa for 4 months.

During that time I was tested and tried, but about 1/2 way through my trip I knew without a doubt God was calling me into full time missions. So one year later I am currently preparing to head to Kibera, Kenya this January. I will be working at the New Adventures School as Education Ministry Staff.

Everyday I am still amazed that God has called me back to the continent that has stolen my heart. I love the people of Africa, the smells, the sounds, the culture and most of all their hearts. They are desperately seeking the God that I serve. I am so thankful to be living this adventure for my Lord and Savior.